After work

Outside of their lab's building, Sora, Mel, and Sobue stood together, chatting while waiting for Yoshio to arrive. Sora’s phone buzzed with a message, and her smile quickly faded into disappointment. Her friends exchanged knowing looks. Sobue gave a small gesture for Mel to take the lead, and she stepped closer to Sora.

“Hey, Sora, did he bail on you?”

“Yeah, he did.” Her voice was thick with sadness.

“Well,” Mel shot Sobue a glance, “maybe something came up.”

Sora slumped onto the nearby bench. “Yeah, maybe.”

"Hey, listen, I mean, it's not the first time it happened, right?" Sobue looked at her, while Mel turned his head to him, pissed, thinking he was an idiot. She showed him a fist, stopping his further attempts to provide comfort.

"Sora, don't listen to him, it doesn't matter, I know it sucks when these things happen, it always feels unpleasant. But maybe he realized that you were rushing it a bit, you know?" She stood next to Sora, their knees touching.

Sora looked at her phone. "Yes, but this guy is special, you know?"

“Aren’t they always?” Sobue muttered under his breath. Mel shot him another sharp look, daring him to speak again.

Mel leaned in toward Sora.

"Hey, hey, Sora, "she noticed the other's despair levels rising, "if he is that special, then it means maybe you will meet again, right? It's just you never know what types of situations people end up in sometimes, maybe something did happen. It's best not to make any conclusions before learning the real reason. I suggest you call him when you get home," Sora looked up, terrified, thus Mel hurriedly added, "Or maybe just text him instead, that you are alright and you hope he is too, or something like that."

"Uhu, I guess." Sora's hands dropped.

"“Tell you what,” Mel said, hopping up and pulling Sora by the hand, “let’s go out tonight. You’re free now, so why not hit the bar?”

Sobue nodded, already heading towards the street. “Yeah, we could grab a couple of beers, then I’ll make sure you get home safe.”

“See?” Mel added in a quieter tone only Sora could hear, “I could use a night out too. I’m not ready to pretend everything’s fine at home.”

Sora gave her a sympathetic look. “Mel, you can’t keep avoiding it.”

“I know, I know. But tonight, let’s just have fun.”

They set off toward the subway station. Sora jogged a bit to catch up.

"Is it okay if I get drunk, Sobue-kun? Will you be embarrassed taking me home like that?"

He looked at her, contemplating for a moment, "It's okay, I have known you for several years now. It’ll be fine, just... try not to cry too much this time.”

“Beer to the heavens!” Sora shouted, clearly eager to drown her sorrows.

"Sure, sure, Sora, just be a good girl." Mel tapped her on the back gently.

"Of course, my friends, that is guaranteed. The only thing I can not control is the amount of information about the latest danmei I have been reading that I will pour onto you tonight."

"Oh no, just not the yaoi stuff today, please," Sobue groaned, rubbing his temples dramatically. “I barely survived lunch.”

"Well, my friend, you might just to have bear with it!" Mel playfully slapped him on the back, a little harder than necessary, causing him to stumble and adjust his tie.

"Mel, what the hell?" He yelled and several passing people turned their heads around due to the noise.

"I am sorry, it was not that bad though, right?" She winked at him.

"Sure it was!" His voice was full of complaints, as he pushed the tie back.

Sora was laughing her ass off observing this. Mel felt great, Sobue, well, still felt heat on his back from that slap.

"Hey, guys," Sora was still laughing, " I just realized, I need to go to the manga shop, where they will be releasing the special edition today of one manga..."

"Of what?" Sobue looked annoyed, anticipating the response already.

"Can't you guess?" Mel tried to poke him, but he managed to evade it. "It is of course some yaoi, which, to your knowledge, I will be interested in joining you, Sora."

"Oh really? Thank you guys!"

"Hey, I did not say I would agree to this!"

"Well, Sobue-kun, there are two of us and one of you. And you can go to the section you usually read anyway." Sora smiled charmingly.

"I guess..." He agreed, defeated.

Thus, they changed their metro line, taking the train to the manga shop district.